A framing system &amp; method

ABSTRACT

A framing system &amp; method for paintings, photos and other sheet-like materials or shadow-box for 3D materials, wherein the protection corners  3  for the frames are made of transparent including semi-transparent material which will allow the viewer to see through the corners and get the whole picture of the framed object. The hanger  1  is an easy-to-balance hanger with one side or both sides having groove structure  2.  The cross-section A-A of the frame  4  is a rectangle including square form  4.1  with one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle  4.2.  This simplified form means simplified workmanship in production.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a framing system & method forpaintings, photos and other sheet-like materials or shadow-box for 3Dmaterials.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] According to the prior arts, the protection corners are made fromcorrugated paper in white or brown colors. Hangers do not haveeasy-to-balance feature. The cross-section of the classical frame is inirregular polygon. The white or brown color protection corners willblock off a portion of the view of the whole picture. In the case ofsmall framed pictures with only one hanger, it's difficult to find thebalance point for the picture where the hanger should be nailed on. Thevaried classical patterns of the frame are attractive to certain peoplebut which also means potential increase on cost comparing withsimplified form.

[0003] A system has been proposed wherein the holding means has aclamping means which is fixedly connected to the hanger and by which thehanging cord is fixedly securable to the hanger by clamping, e.g., asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,948. However, this mechanism iscomparatively more complicated to be applied.

[0004] In another type of frame design, two generally identical elongatemembers have decorative ornaments on the front, e.g., as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. D487,354. However, this design can not be applied on paperetc fragile articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide protectioncorners for frames that will not block off a portion of the view of thewhole picture.

[0006] It is another object of this invention to provide a frame hangerwith easy-to-balance feature.

[0007] It is another object of this invention to provide a simplifiedform of frame which might look neat to some people and save cost inproduction.

[0008] It is another object of this invention to provide a method offraming comprising the steps of protection for frame corners withsee-through feature, easy-to-balance hanging, simplification for frames.

[0009] The present invention in one embodiment provides the protectioncorners for frame that are made of transparent includingsemi-transparent material. As a result, the transparent orsemi-transparent protection corners will allow the viewer to see throughthe corners and get the whole view.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a frame hangeris provided which is an easy-to-balance hanger with one side or bothsides having groove structure. As a result, when using only one piece ofsuch easy-to-balance hanger, by shifting the nail among different teeth,it's easy to find the balance point. Furthermore, the groove structurecan also make the hanger difficult to be loosened.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the present invention, thecross-section of the frame is a rectangle including square form with onecorner being cut off a groove in right-angle. Rectangle or square is thesimplest form for frames. As a result, such workmanship means possiblesavings on cost.

[0012] The present invention also includes a method comprising the stepsof transparent or semi-transparent protection corners for frames,easy-to-balance hanging, simplified rectangle form for frames. As aresult, it allows the viewers to see through and get the whole picture.It's easy to hang the framed picture. The simplified frames look neatand provide possible savings on cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a framing system with aneasy-to-balance hanger, a transparent protection corner and frame insimplified form.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one kind of hanger.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the hanger.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of thehanger.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of yet another embodiment ofthe hanger.

[0018]FIG. 6 is an A-A cross-sectional view of the frame.

[0019]FIG. 7 is a view of a protection corner when it's in fully spread.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a protection corner whenit's wrapped around a frame corner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] This invention will now be described in further details withreference to the drawings.

[0022]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one kind of embodiments of thepresent invention with a transparent protection corner, aneasy-to-balance hanger and a frame in simplified form. In the case of aframing system for oil painting, the painting will firstly be stretchedon stretch-bars. If the main tone of the painting is blue, i.e., apainting in the theme of ocean, we can paint the frame, that itscross-section is a rectangle form with one corner being cut off a groovein right-angle as being showed in FIG. 6, into blue color. Although theframe is simplified, it looks neat and will match the tone of thepainting. The four frames will form a groove on the back to hold thepainting on stretch bars. FIG. 7 shows a view of the protection cornersbefore being applied on frames. The rectangle form of the protectioncorner 3.1 has been cut off a triangle shape 3.2. The length of the bothsides 3.2.a of the triangle shape 3.2 is better equal to the thicknessof the frames. Then they'll fit well with the frames when being wrappedaround the frame corners. After putting on the four thick transparentprotection corners made with PVC, the front elevational view of theprotection corner will look like the effect as being illustrated in FIG.8. The frames will thus be well protected. In the mean time, thetransparent corners will not block off the view of neither the paintingnor the frames when being displayed for sale. Before hanging, put twopieces of screws or nails through the holes 2.1 to mount the hanger asbeing showed in FIG. 2 & FIG. 3 on the back of the top frame with theteeth 2 of the hanger downward. Hence, by shifting the hanger amongdifferent tooth, it's easy to find the balance point of the whole framedpainting toward the nail on wall and the painting will thus be secured.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of thehanger. The advantage of this kind of hanger is that it's not needed todistinguish which side should be mounted downward or upward as both ofthe serration structure is the same. In the case of a framing system forphotos or prints or posters, the cross-section of the frame is the samerectangle form with one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle asbeing showed in FIG. 6. The four frames will form a groove on the backto hold the glass or acryl cover, the photo or print or poster, mat plusbackup board. FIG. 7 shows a view of the protection corners before beingapplied on frames. The rectangle form of the protection corner 3.1 hasbeen cut off a triangle shape 3.2. The length of the both sides 3.2.a ofthe triangle shape 3.2 is equal to the thickness of the frames. Afterputting on the four thick transparent protection corners on frames, thefront elevational view of the protection corner will look like theeffect as being illustrated in FIG. 8. The frames will thus be wellprotected. In the mean time, the transparent corners will allow theviewer to see through it and get the whole framed picture of the photoor print or poster. Before hanging, put two pieces of screws or nailsthrough the holes 2.1 to mount the hanger as being showed in FIG. 4which has double sided serration structure on the back of the top frame.As a result, by shifting the hanger among different tooth, it's easy tofind the balance point of the whole framed picture toward the nail onwall and the picture will thus be secured.

[0024]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of yet another embodiment ofthe hanger. The downward grooves are in the same serration structure.The upper side of the hanger is being cut off several continuoustrapezoid shapes. This kind of hanger looks beautiful and providespossible savings on materials as the parts being cut off can berecycled. In the case of a framing system for a shadow-box to hold 3Dmaterials, the cross-section of the frame is the same rectangle formwith one corner being cut off a groove in right-angle as being showed inFIG. 6. The four frames will form a groove on the back to hold the glassor acryl cover, mat, box-like backup board and the 3D material on thebackup board. FIG. 7 shows a view of the protection corner when it's infull spread. The rectangle form of the protection corner 3.1 has beencut off a triangle shape 3.2. The length of the both sides 3.2.a of thetriangle shape 3.2 is equal to the thickness of the frames. Beforehanging, put two pieces of screws or nails through the holes 2.1 tomount the hanger as being showed in FIG. 5 with the serration structureside downward. As a result, by shifting the hanger among differenttooth, it's easy to find the balance point of the whole framed 3D objecttoward the nail on wall and the whole framed object will thus be hangedin balance.

[0025] Another embodiment of the present invention is on mirrors. As thecross-section of the frame is a simple & regular rectangle form with onecorner being cut off a groove in right-angle as being showed in FIG. 6,the frame for mirrors can be extruded from plastic.

[0026] Although the invention has been described by reference toparticular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes andmodifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A framing system for paintings, photos and othersheet-like materials or shadow-box for 3D materials, comprising frame,hanger, protection corner, stretch bar, mat, hanging wire, glass oracryl cover sheet, wherein the protection corners 3 for the frames aremade of transparent including semi-transparent material. Protectioncorners with any color will block off or cut off the view of the wholeframed object. Transparent or semi-transparent protection corners willallow the viewer to see through the corners and get the whole picture ofthe framed object.
 2. The framing system as defined in claim 1, whereinthe hanger 1 is an easy-to-balance hanger with one side or both sideshaving groove structure
 2. When using only one piece of sucheasy-to-balance hanger, by shifting among different teeth, it's easy tofind the balance point for the framed object. Furthermore, the groovestructure can also make the hanger difficult to be loosened.
 3. Theframing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cross-section A-A ofthe frame 4 is a rectangle including square form 4.1 with one cornerbeing cut off a groove in right-angle 4.2. Rectangle or square is thesimplest form for frames and such workmanship means simplifiedworkmanship in production.
 4. The framing system as defined in claim 2,wherein the groove structure 2 is continuously & horizontally laid oneither side or both sides of the hanger
 1. 5. The framing system asdefined in claim 2 & claim 4, wherein the groove structure 2 is in theshape of serration, or teeth, or waves, or trapezoid, or rectangle, orsquare, or polygon, or hemicycle, semi-oval, or a flake with the centralpart protruding outward.
 6. The framing system as defined in claim 1,wherein the shape of the protection corners 3 when unwrapping isbasically a rectangle or square 3.1 with one side being cut off a pieceof material in triangle 3.2. When wrapping on the corners of the frame,the front view of the protection corners is in the shape of a triangle3.3.
 7. The framing system as defined in claim 1 & claim 6, wherein thematerial of the protection corners 3 is PVC.
 8. A framing method forpaintings, photos and other sheet-like materials or shadow-box for 3Dmaterials, comprising the steps of frames making, hanger nailing, framecorners protection, stretching the picture on bars, matting, hangingwith wire, glass or acryl sheet covering, wherein the protection cornersfor frame are made of transparent including semi-transparent material.9. The framing method as defined in claim 8, wherein the hanger is aneasy-to-balance hanger with one side or both sides having groovestructure.
 10. The framing method as defined in claim 8, wherein thecross-section of the frame is a rectangle including square form with onecorner being cut off a groove in right-angle.